Abstract
The metapopulation dynamics ofLernaeocera lusci andL. branchialis on soleSolea solea and flounderPleuronects flesus were studied in the Dutch coastal area. Both fish species harboured large numbers of parasites when they arrived in the coastal area in the spring. Between April and June all parasites detached from the intermediate hosts and infected the definitive hosts (0+ whitingMerlangius merlangus forL. branchialis, and possibly sand gobyPomatoschistus minutus forL. lusci). Thereafter, flounder remained almost parasite-free until autumn. This suggests thatL. branchialis has only 1 generation per year. However, soles were infested again withL. lusci (in June and July), which detached to infest 0+bibTrisopterus luscus, the typical definitive host for this parasite species. Thus, it appears thatL. lusci has 2 generations per year. The flounder length and the infection intensity ofL. branchialis were not correlated throughout the study period. Significant positive correlations were found between the sole length and infection intensity ofL. lusci in late spring, but not in the summer or autumn. Throughout the year, bothL. lusci andL. branchialis were aggregated within their intermediate host populations (variance ≫ ≫ abundance).
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Anstensrud, M., 1989. Experimental studies on the reproductive behaviour of the parasitic copepodLernaeocera branchialis (Pennellidae). J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K.69, 465–476.
Anstensurd, M., 1990a Mating strategies of two parasitic copepods [Lernaeocera branchialis (L.) (Pennellidae) andLepeophtheirus pectoralis (Müller) (Caligidae)] on flounder: polygamy, sexspecific age at maturity and sex ratio.-J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol136, 141–158.
Anstensrud, M., 1990b. Effects of mating on female behaviour and allometric growth in the two parasitic copepodsLernaeocera branchialis (L., 1767) (Pennellidae) andLepeophtheirus pectoralis (Müller, 1776) (Caligidae).-Crustaceana59, 245–258.
Anstensrud, M., 1992. Mate guarding and mate choice in two copepods,Lernaeocera branchialis (L.) (Pennellidae) andLepeophtheirus pectoralis (Müller) (Caligidae), parasitic on flounder.-J. crust Biol.12, 31–40.
Elliot, J. M., 1977. Some methods for the statistical analysis of samples of benthic invertebrates. Freshwater Biol. Ass. Ambleside, Westmoreland, 160pp.
Hamerlynck, O., Geets, A. & Van Damme, P. A., 1989. The parasites of two sympatric gobiesPomatoschistus minutus andP. lozanoi in the Belgiar coastal waters. In: Invertébrés de Belgique. Institute Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique. Bruxelles, 27–30.
Hamerlynck, O. & Hostens, K., 1993. growth, production and consumption in 0+ group bidTrisopterus luscus and whitingMerlangius merlangus in a shallow coastal area of the SW Netherlands. ICES J. mar. Sci.50, 81–91.
Hamerlynck, O., Hostens, K., Arellano, R. V., Mees, J. & Van Damme, P. A., 1993. The mobile epibenthic fauna of soft bottoms in the Dutch Delta (south-west Netherlands): spatial structure.-Neth. J. quat. Ecol.27, 343–358.
Kabata, Z., 1958.Lernaeocera obtusa n. sp.: Its biology and its effects on the haddock.-Mar. Res.3, 1–26.
Kabata, Z., 1979. Parastic Copepoda of British fishes. The Ray Society, London, 2018 pp.
Slinn, J. D., 1970. An infestation of adultLernaeocera (Copepoda) on wild sole,Solea solea, kept under hatchery conditions.-J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K.50, 787–800.
Sproston, N. G. & Hartley, P. H. T., 1941. The ecology of some parasitic copepods of gadoids and other fishes.-J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K.25, 361–392.
Stekhoven, J. H., 1936. Beobachtungen zur Morphologie und Physiologie derLernaeocera branchialis undL. lusci.-Z. Parasitkde8, 659–696.
Van Damme, P. A. & Hamerlynck, O., 1992. The infection dynamics and dispersion pattern ofLernaeocera branchialis L. on 0+ whiting (Merlangius merlangus L.) in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands).-J. Fish Biol.41, 265–275.
Van Damme, P. A., Maertens, D., Arrumm, A., Hamerlynck, O. & Ollevier, F., 1993. The role ofCallionymus lyra andC. reticulatus in the life cycle ofLernaeocera lusci in Belgian coastal waters (Southern Bight of the North Sea).-J. Fish Biol.42, 395–401.
Van Damme, P. A., Hamerlynck, O. & Ollevier, F. 1996. The population dynamics of the parasitic copepodeLernaeocera lusci (Bassett-Smith, 1896) on its definitive host.-Helgländer Meeresunters.50, 179–192.
Van den Broek, W. L. F., 1979. Copepod ectoparasites ofMerlangius merlangus andPlatichthys flesus.-J. Fish Biol.14, 371–380.
Whitfield, P. J., Pilcher, M. W., Grant, H. J., & Riley, J., 1988. Experimental studies on the development ofLernaeocera branchialis (Copepoda: Pennellidae): population processes from egg production to maturation on the flatfish host.-Hydrobiologia167–168, 579–586.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Damme, P.A., Ollevier, F. The population dynamics ofLernaeocera lusci andL. branchialis on intermediate hosts. Helgolander Meeresunters 50, 177–190 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02367150
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02367150